In
a show of unity the Iraqi opposition finally holds a conference
in London, after three opposition leaders met in Iran.
The opposition agree on a political blueprint
for Iraq after Saddam is ousted including a federal democracy,
to refuse foreign guardianship and occupation, and Islam
as the official state religion.

The
military build-up to oust Saddam's regime intensifies
as a computerised test run of the war is launched
in Qatar and Hungary is asked to host around 2,400 Iraqi
exiles for training to prepare them for
a post-Saddam Iraq.

To
shore up Turkey's support for action Bush hosts the political
leader Tayyip Erdogan, whose Islamic-related
party now heads the government, and agree on using Turkey's airbases to attack
Saddam while senators visit Turkey.

In
gathering support for military action, Germany now agrees to participate
in any NATO operations against Saddam, and the US looks
to Asia for support.

America
denounces Iraq's dossier,
but this is unlikely to be enough. Testimonies from Iraqi
scientists is the more likely trigger for military action.

Saddam
signals he has given up hope for support from his usual
allies as he exposes suppliers of dangerous
arms and cancels an oil deal with Russia. And, in a bid to
make sure Iraqi generals do not carry out orders to launch
chemical or biological attacks, the US threatens to use
nuclear retaliation.